Kin Experiences
Kin seeks to help people deepen their relationship with nature,and inspire new ways of enjoying our local enviroment. Through guided group activities we can enjoy a sense of freedom from constraints and modern confinements together, instead of in isolation. Guided nature walks, nature journaling and mindful writing workshops draw on literature, art and wildlife to help individuals find meaning, solace and inspiration. Kin activities are designed to restore balance and reignite fascination and flow, providing space away from screens and the digital world and helping people reconnect with one another and a shared love of nature and landscape. Nature Walks and art and writing workshops take place in and around the countryside of East Sussex and in Brighton, Lewes and Glynde.
‘As humans we think in metaphor. A journey on foot is a short pilgrimage and a way of engaging with our stories at a particular time in life. The objects we naturally find seem often to follow their own theme. The small events, sightings and experiences on the walk can reflect aspects of our current narrative, concerns or preoccupations and help us to see more clearly and find answers or inner guidance. This is a form of modern ritual, a kind of secular divining and can be deeply enlightening and therapeutic.’
What People Are Saying
“The workshop really resonated with me not only in terms of the aesthetic and symbolic qualities of the Journey Sticks we made but also because the connecting with a sense of place and home is something very poignant in my life, especially at the moment. I enjoyed being out in nature walking and tuning into collecting objects for our sticks. I also enjoyed the solidarity of being with a group of people in this way.”
— Sarah Holloway, Artist and Teacher
“A deeply gentle way to connect with the landscape and to those who may have walked before you. Gather, think, breathe, walk, reflect, create, share in a way that anyone can engage with regardless of artistic or literary skills. Tara welcomes, engages and gently guides your own personal journey through the day and the landscape”
— Catherine Cridland, Garden Designer
“Tara's Journey workshop was a light, experiential day full of connection and renewed wonder to my local surroundings. I loved being with fellow lovers of natural objects found and felt I was connected to a greater golden thread of making and telling stories together. The loved feeling the weight of the bare stick in my hands and then slowly, intuitively choosing and weaving my found objects into the awaiting life of the Journey Stick. I found the day to be deeply therapeutic and a few weeks afterwards I continue to feel the joy arise when I pick my Journey Stick up and remember the playful day in early Summer when I wove a unique story out of flint and bone, sheep's wool and sycamore skeleton leaves.”
— Wendy Spencer, Yoga Teacher
“In her Kin guided walks and workshops Tara brings a gentle focus and sense of purpose to deepen the positive effects of experiences in nature. After a one day journey stick retreat I felt revitalised and more at peace, reconnected to my heart and grounded.”
— Paulina Wojciechowska, Natural building architect and Director of Earth, Hands & Houses
A one to one journey stick nature walk with Nicola and her beloved dog Ace, who had been diagnosed with a congenital heart condition. Ace passed away a few weeks later.
“Yesterday I was lucky enough to be held by the most wonderful Tara Gould on a journey stick walk with my dog, Ace. I have been feeling desperate to make something tangible from our adventuring, something that I can touch and hold when he’s gone. Tara brought me a hawthorn branch to work with - so appropriate considering its connection to the heart, our recent foraging of blossom, and my heart connection to Ace. We collected items on our walk - of course I found a heart shaped flint! It’s not finished yet - I want to bind some as yet un-found wool on it, as sheep have been a big part of our adventures, and some words. When he was little I randomly collected pieces of metal on our walks. These five pieces represent his years. I had also found two tiny keys, which are bound behind the heart flint, which sits perfectly in the hawthorn knot. A tiny jay feather represents unexpected freedom and beauty. There is a hag stone from a beach walk, filled with foraged wild marjoram, red clover and rose petals. He has, of course, had a little nibble which makes me happy. Teeth marks on wood, and the overzealous scratch scars I wear are permanent “
— Nicola Corcoran, Director Nourish & Grow
“I’ve been on loads of guided walks with Tara and she has opened all my senses to the spirit of nature. I loved walking in silence as a group, it puts you all together, on the same level, enjoying nature with others, without worries.”